Largely, I think that this is because the second book in the trilogy was focused more on Salander’s life story and her own conflicts, rather than having as much focus on a second plotline like the first book did. It also didn’t spend quite as much time on the setup and background details – though still more than I would’ve liked – and so wasn’t as tedious.

I avoided this book for quite a while, largely because it was one of those popular, “must read” books that didn’t really seem like a must-read. Sort of like The Da Vinci Code, yanno?

Anyways, I finally decided to try reading it as an audiobook because it went on sale via Audible, and I figured that it was less of a gamble in audiobook format. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have a lonely single book (of a trilogy) taunting me from my bookshelf – I’m a compulsive finisher of things – and there would be no harm, no foul if it was awful.